Former Butzel Long chairman joins Honigman

Kessler, 66, is best known for defending the University of Michigan in the U.S. Supreme Court case against the university's affirmative action policy.

In 1995, the university rejected the college application of Jennifer Gratz, a white student from metro Detroit. She filed a case against the school in 1997. After several appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the school's policy in 2003.

However, the school's use of affirmative action was later struck down by voters in 2006, which is under review by the Supreme Court, again.

Prior to joining Honigman, Kessler had been a partner for Thompson & Knight LLP in Detroit since 2011. Before that, he had been an attorney and partner at Butzel Long PC beginning in 1972. He served as Butzel chairman from 2006 to 2010.

Kessler brings with him a stable of clients in numerous industries, including automotive, advertising, health care, pharmaceutical, financial services, real estate and manufacturing, Honigman said in a news release.

He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers' board of regents and on its executive committee and is a fellow of The International Society of Barristers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Kessler also serves as a trustee, secretary and executive committee member of the Supreme Court Historical Society.

Kessler earned his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and a bachelor's from UM.

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